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Last Updated: Jul 2nd, 2008 - 21:15:22 |
(NAPSI)-For as long as one can remember, dogs have been deemed man's best friend. But for the nation's thousands of service dogs, the definition of best friend has been taken to a new level, as these dogs go above and beyond the call of duty and perform acts of courage and heroism on a daily basis.
It's in honor of this service and because of their love for dogs that Pedigree® Food for Dogs, together with Wal-Mart, wants to pay tribute to these hardworking service dogs by hosting the third annual Paws to Recognize™ program. Through a partnership with well-respected organizations including the Delta Society, Guide Dogs for the Blind, the National Association for Search and Rescue, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. War Dogs Association, Pedigree has identified five incredible service dogs who deserve top honors.
"As a brand that loves dogs and understands their needs, Pedigree takes great pride in being able to nationally recognize canine service dogs for their continued hard work and dedication," said Chris Jones, Franchise Director of Pet Care for Masterfoods USA, which manufactures Pedigree Food for Dogs.
Real-Life Canine Heroes
This year's five incredible canine nominees for the Paws to Recognize Award are:
• Boris: A Belgian Malinois, this military canine has been active in the U.S. Armed Services for nine years. He has served in Bosnia, Kosovo and, most recently, Iraq, where he worked as a great morale booster and was considered part of the team. His presence always seems to cheer up lonely and homesick soldiers who are lured into spending hours playing with him.
• Jacko: This Belgian Malinois has served an illustrious six years working for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Department of Homeland Security. He is responsible for helping seize drug-contaminated currency.
• Jenner: As the loyal and skilled Guide Dog of visually-impaired San Francisco resident John Hart, Jenner, a Golden Retriever, is a veritable dog-around-town. Jenner is John's partner in community service and assists him as he volunteers at the VA Hospital in San Francisco to help make patients feel at ease.
• Keyotae: Keyotae is a 120-pound bloodhound on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week as a volunteer search and rescue dog. Keyotae's skillful ability to locate people, combined with a commitment to hard work, has proven him to be extremely useful in search and rescue operations.
• Shug: A six-year-old Golden Retriever, Shug works at various hospitals as an Animal-Assisted Activities/Therapy Dog. Shug is an affectionate, patient and caring dog who is an extremely useful resource in the hospital, where he helps make patients less fearful and lonely during their stay.
Place Your Vote
Dog lovers are invited to vote for the service dog they think is most deserving of the Paws to Recognize Award by logging on to www.pedigree.com/paws from now through July 31, 2005, where they can view a photo and biography of each nominee. The dog that receives the most votes will be announced at an awards ceremony in August, 2005.
Everyday Heroes
New this year, the program also features an "Everyday Heroes" category, which will reward one non-professional dog that has made a valuable contribution to the lives of others and one human candidate (or group) who exemplifies a love for dogs.
Dog lovers will have the opportunity to nominate an "Everyday Hero" by submitting an essay (200-words or less) that describes the candidate/group or dog and why they deserve to be recognized. The winning dog and human/ group will each receive $5,000 and a one-year supply of Pedigree dog food (for one dog), as well as an all-expenses-paid trip to the awards ceremony where they'll be recognized. To submit a nomination, visit pedigree.com/paws and complete the online entry form.
For additional information on the Pedigree Paws to Recognize program, as well as tips for keeping your dog healthy and happy, log on to pedigree.com.
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